Reading easel and book rack



Marsh 24, 1936. D RUBlNQ 2,034,835

READING EASEL AND BOOK RACK Filed April 17, 1935 Danie Eu bino INVENTOR ATTORN EY Patented Mar. 24, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE v READING EASEL AND BOOK RACK Dante Rubino, Brooklyn, N. Y.

Application April 17, 1935, Serial No. 16,911

1 Claim. (CI. 45-82) This invention relates to book supports adapted for attachment to a chair arm.

The primary object of my invention is to provide a device of the character indicated which may be conveniently attached for support to the arm of an upholstered chair and comprising a tray so mounted that it may be positioned in front of the occupant of the chair for comfortable reading or may be swung to hang beside the chair to function as a magazine or book rack.

A further object of my invention is to provide a convertible reading easel and book rack of a simple and economical construction which when in use as a reading easel may be adjusted to any desired position.

The invention will be fully and comprehensively understood from a consideration of the following detailed description when read in connection with the accompanying drawing which forms part of the application, with the understanding, however, that the improvement is capable of extended application and is not confined to the exact showing of the drawing nor to the precise construction described and, therefore, such changes and modifications may be made therein as do not afiect the spirit of the invention nor exceed the scope thereof as expressed in the appended claims.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a typical arm chair and illustrating the two-fold use of my device.

Fig. 2 is a front elevational view of the device.

Figs. 3 and 4 are side and end elevational views respectively of the device as shown in Fig; 2; and

Fig. 5 is a detail sectional view taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 2.

Referring now to the drawing for a more detailed description thereof, the numeral 6 indicates a metallic flat spring clamp so formed as to fit substantially around the curved upper section of a chair arm. The clamp 6 is to be of a sufliciently malleable material to permit of shaping same in conformity to the chair arm and has extending tangentially from its curved portion a straight member I provided to rest against the inner vertical surface of the chair arm to more rigidly support the device. A soft pliable material 8, such as felt, is attached to the inner surface of the clamp 8 to protect the chair covering from abrasion. A longitudinal slot 9 is cut in the center of the clamp 6 beginning at the point of tangency of the member I and extending around theentire arcuate portion of the clamp. Theslot 8 is provided for angular adjustment and attachment of theeasel arm M which comprises a tubular section II and an extensible rod l2 telescoping within same. The

arm 10 is attached to the clamp 6 by a cap screw l3 having a shallow head and a square shank I4 just below its head, the threads of the screw engaging in a tapped portion of the tube l I. A cupped washer l5 having radial slots cut in its periphery is disposed between the end of the tube II and the outer surface of the clamp 6 to provide a frictional engagement at this point.

A series of circumferential grooves are cut in the telescoping portion of the rod l2 into which the end of a set screw l6 engages to secure the longitudinal and angular adjustment of the rod I2.- Integral with the opposite end of the rod I2 is formed a collar II in which is journalled a stud shaft H3. The stud shaft I8 is secured to and projects from the rear surface of an easel board IS, the latter being preferably of rectangular shape and provided at one edge thereof with an extending ledge 20. A transverse bar 2| having its respective ends appropriately bent is swingably mounted by the blocks 22 to the board I!) so that same may be swung to the rear of the board l9 when its use is not required or may be swung into contact with the exposed pages of an open book on the easel.

As aforeindicated, the clamp 6 provides a convenient and adequate attachment of mv reading easel to the arm of an upholstered chair. It will be obvious from the foregoing that the easel arm II! when extended over the chair seat, as shown in full line in Fig. 1, may be conveniently adjusted to support the board I!) to any position comfortable for reading. When the device is not required for this purpose the board l9 may be readily moved to a position alongside the chair, as indicated in dot and dash outline in Fig. 1. This adjustment of the device is simply effected by sliding the arm III in the slot 9 until it depends from the clamp 6 in a substantially vertical position. To provide for the ing an arcuate bracket attachable to a chair, an

elongate slot in said bracket extending longitudinally of same, a support for reading matter slidably secured to and disposed radially from said arcuate bracket said support being slidably en-- gaged in said slot and adapted to be slid from a orizontal position in fruit of a reader seated the chair to a depending vertical position adjacent an outer side of the chair and vice versa.

DANTE RUBINO. 

